Volunteer Nominated As Outstanding Icelander Faces Deportation

Rima Charaf Eddine Nasr is set to be deported, despite recently being nominated as one of ten candidates for the “Outstanding Young Icelander” award, reports Heimildin. She was nominated for her volunteer work with children.

Despite having several family members settled in Iceland — including her parents, three siblings, and a nephew — Rima and her sister are now facing deportation. Born in Venezuela but raised in Syria, she arrived on a Venezuelan passport nearly two years ago. Now, she faces deportation to Venezuela, a country where she has no real connections and does not speak the language.

“I was finally building my life and becoming more involved in society. I was finally starting to feel safe,” Rima told Heimildin.

Rima was recently nominated for the 2024 Outstanding Young Icelander award by the Icelandic chapter of the international youth organization JCI. She was recognised for her active volunteer work with the Red Cross and the organisation Læti!, helping Arabic-speaking children who recently arrived from war-torn areas.

With a degree in English literature from Damascus University, Rima taught English in Syrian refugee camps and continued her educational work in Iceland, dedicating herself to teaching children.

“I am going through, probably, the biggest shock of my life,” Rima says about the deportation. Her final Directorate of Immigration interview is scheduled for next Monday, following two previous rejections. Her lawyer suggests little hope remains for her staying in Iceland.